San Antonio man arrested, stolen car parts found

Alia Malik, San Antonio Express-News

Updated 1:24 pm, Thursday, July 10, 2014

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio police (background) stand Thursday July 10, 2014 in the driveway of a home at 5815 Cliffmont where an auto parts chop shop was discovered. Sergeant Javier Salazar said a 9-11 call was made form the home for burglars in action when police noticed an abundance of car parts at the home. Parts were discovered to be stolen and the home owner was placed under arrest. The investigation is on going. less

San Antonio police (background) stand Thursday July 10, 2014 in the driveway of a home at 5815 Cliffmont where an auto parts chop shop was discovered. Sergeant Javier Salazar said a 9-11 call was made form the ... more

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio police stand Thursday July 10, 2014 in the driveway of a home at 5815 Cliffmont where an auto parts chop shop was discovered. Sergeant Javier Salazar said a 9-11 call was made form the home for burglars in action when police noticed an abundance of car parts at the home. Parts were discovered to be stolen and the home owner was placed under arrest. The investigation is on going. less

San Antonio police stand Thursday July 10, 2014 in the driveway of a home at 5815 Cliffmont where an auto parts chop shop was discovered. Sergeant Javier Salazar said a 9-11 call was made form the home for ... more

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio police remove a motor on an engine stand Thursday July 10, 2014 in the driveway of a home at 5815 Cliffmont where an auto parts chop shop was discovered. Sergeant Javier Salazar said a 9-11 call was made form the home for burglars in action when police noticed an abundance of car parts at the home. Parts were discovered to be stolen and the home owner was placed under arrest. The investigation is on going. less

San Antonio police remove a motor on an engine stand Thursday July 10, 2014 in the driveway of a home at 5815 Cliffmont where an auto parts chop shop was discovered. Sergeant Javier Salazar said a 9-11 call was ... more

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio police (background) stand Thursday July 10, 2014 in the driveway of a home at 5815 Cliffmont where an auto parts chop shop was discovered. Sergeant Javier Salazar said a 9-11 call was made form the home for burglars in action when police noticed an abundance of car parts at the home. Parts were discovered to be stolen and the home owner was placed under arrest. The investigation is on going. less

San Antonio police (background) stand Thursday July 10, 2014 in the driveway of a home at 5815 Cliffmont where an auto parts chop shop was discovered. Sergeant Javier Salazar said a 9-11 call was made form the ... more

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio police stand outside of a West Side home July 10, 2014 where a man was arrested and stolen car parts were found.

San Antonio police stand outside of a West Side home July 10, 2014 where a man was arrested and stolen car parts were found.

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Police found stolen car parts at a house on the West Side on Thursday, July 10, 2014 in San Antonio.

Police found stolen car parts at a house on the West Side on Thursday, July 10, 2014 in San Antonio.

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A car engine is seen in front of a home on the West Side on July 10, 2014, where a man was arrested and stolen car parts were found.

A car engine is seen in front of a home on the West Side on July 10, 2014, where a man was arrested and stolen car parts were found.

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San Antonio police (background) stand Thursday July 10, 2014 in the driveway of a home at 5815 Cliffmont where an auto parts chop shop was discovered. Sergeant Javier Salazar said a 9-11 call was made form the home for burglars in action when police noticed an abundance of car parts at the home. Parts were discovered to be stolen and the home owner was placed under arrest. The investigation is on going. less

San Antonio police (background) stand Thursday July 10, 2014 in the driveway of a home at 5815 Cliffmont where an auto parts chop shop was discovered. Sergeant Javier Salazar said a 9-11 call was made form the ... more

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio police stand Thursday July 10, 2014 in the driveway of a home at 5815 Cliffmont where an auto parts chop shop was discovered. Sergeant Javier Salazar said a 9-11 call was made form the home for burglars in action when police noticed an abundance of car parts at the home. Parts were discovered to be stolen and the home owner was placed under arrest. The investigation is on going. less

San Antonio police stand Thursday July 10, 2014 in the driveway of a home at 5815 Cliffmont where an auto parts chop shop was discovered. Sergeant Javier Salazar said a 9-11 call was made form the home for ... more

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News

Image 10 of 11

San Antonio police (background) stand Thursday July 10, 2014 in the driveway of a home at 5815 Cliffmont where an auto parts chop shop was discovered. Sergeant Javier Salazar said a 9-11 call was made form the home for burglars in action when police noticed an abundance of car parts at the home. Parts were discovered to be stolen and the home owner was placed under arrest. The investigation is on going. less

San Antonio police (background) stand Thursday July 10, 2014 in the driveway of a home at 5815 Cliffmont where an auto parts chop shop was discovered. Sergeant Javier Salazar said a 9-11 call was made form the ... more

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio man arrested, stolen car parts found

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SAN ANTONIO -- A man called police Thursday morning to report burglars were in the backyard of his house on the far West Side, and that he had fired a gun at them.

When police arrived at the house in the 5800 block of Cliffmont Drive, they determined the man made up the burglary -- but he himself had a large collection of stolen auto parts.

"He called the police on himself, is what it looks like," Salazar said.

Arriving at about 10 a.m., officers saw the man, 39, outside with a weapon, but he quickly complied with their command to drop it, Salazar said.

The man did not seem to be intoxicated, but his account of the attempted burglary made no sense, Salazar said.

"At some point in there, his story started to unravel somewhat, to the point where officers started doubting whether there was actually ever burglars in action," Salazar said.

Officers found no evidence that anyone had run away from the house and neighbors said they had not heard shots fired.

In an extension behind the house, police found parts of at least 10 different cars and trucks, many apparently new, Salazar said. The man claimed they were not his, but police said he seemed to be lying.

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Police laid out chassis, doors of pickup trucks, bumpers, hoods and other car parts Thursday morning on the lawn. They planned to spend most of the day there, removing parts and building a case.

"It just looks like a very big chop shop operation," Salazar said. "At this point, it's not known if they were dismantling them here or if they were bringing them here. We're trying to find out what stage of the chop shop operation this house is responsible for."

Officers worked Thursday to determine which pieces were stolen and talk to neighbors about what they had seen.

The man, who has not yet been identified, faces charges of theft and possessing stolen property, Salazar said. More charges are coming and more people could be arrested, Salazar said.

Such a case is not characteristic of the neighborhood off of Timber Path, Salazar said.

"This is actually a very nice neighborhood, and it appears to be a very quiet neighborhood," he said.